NASA Stumbles Across 10 Undiscovered Black Holes

NASA recently stumbled across 10 previously undiscovered supermassive black holes, using its Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). NASA is hoping this is simply the beginning of their good fortune, as the team anticipates hundreds of potential discoveries to emerge from the depths of space.

Supermassive Black Holes

Supermassive black holes are the largest black hole type, possessing hundreds of thousands to billions of solar masses. Astronomers postulate that there are supermassive black holes dotted throughout distant galaxies, often situated within their centers. Sagittarius A* is the name coined for the supermassive black within the Milky Way.

The trigger of these space monsters has been the source of much debate amongst leading astronomers. One theory posits, supermassive black holes materialize upon a star’s demise, as matter is squeezed into a very small volume. The extreme density of this matter instigates powerful gravitational forces, from which even light cannot escape.

Many of these black holes have been identified indirectly, by detecting X-rays emitted from the accretion disks, surrounding their cores. The accretion disk arises from the influence of the supermassive black hole’s gravitational forces, slowly drawing streams of matter ever-closer, which slowly revolve around its center. As the matter proceeds towards its fate, it experiences frictional forces that cause it to release detectable, high-energy radiation. This radiation can then be measured by X-ray telescopes, such as NuSTAR.

NuSTAR Mission

NASA first deployed NuSTAR into orbit during June of 2012 to conduct “deep observations of the galactic sky.” Primary objectives include investigation of supernova remnants and execution of black hole studies.

Concept art of NASA’s NuSTAR X-ray telescope

The telescope represented the first orbital telescope to focus light in the high-energy X-ray region (between 6 to 79 keV), and boasts an array of instruments, including two specially-designed, grazing incidence telescopes, alongside new detection methods that surpass those of Chandra and XMM.

David Alexander, one of the NuSTAR crew members, based at the Department of Physics at Durham University, England, explains the chance discovery:

“We found the black holes serendipitously… We were looking at known targets and spotted the black holes in the background of the images.”

Based upon these startling revelations, Alexander believes further unforeseen findings could be made. Therefore, the NuSTAR group plans to revisit previous imagery, acquired during the sophisticated telescope’s previous missions, in the hunt for other potential black hole sightings.

However, in light of these unprecedented results, the researchers have already investigated data collated from the European Space Agency’s XMM satellite and NASA’s Chandra X-ray observatory, which detect lower energy X-ray emissions. Astonishingly, NuSTAR’s less capable counterparts had already stumbled across these black holes, during a series of entirely separate missions; however, the findings failed to stand out, and did not appear to warrant further inspection.

The Future

During a recent press announcement, Alexander boasted about the amazing work that NuSTAR has already achieved, and briefly described the telescope’s role in the future of black hole research:

“We are getting closer to solving a mystery that began in 1962… Back then, astronomers had noted a diffuse X-ray glow in the background of our sky but were unsure of its origin. Now, we know that distant supermassive black holes are sources of this light, but we need NuSTAR to help further detect and understand the black hole populations.”

These so-called X-ray glows are easily delineated using NuSTAR’s innovative technology, which can detect much higher frequencies. Higher energy X-rays are capable of transiting through the glass and dust that surrounds

An optical image of numerous galaxies was taken and overlaid with X-ray data (magenta), acquired by NuSTAR (Source credit: NASA/JPL)

Daniel Stern, project scientist for NuSTAR at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), maintains they are already learning fascinating details about some of these newly identified black holes. The astronomers’ early findings suggest many distant supermassive black holes appear “encased” within larger galaxies; Stern theorizes, back when the universe was still in its infancy, bigger galaxies were constantly colliding, coalescing and expanding, a process which explains this observation.

NuSTAR is due to continue its black hole hunting initiatives. In the mean time, it will also remain on the lookout for other points of cosmological intrigue. Discovering 10 entirely new supermassive black holes, by mere fortune, is quite a feat. Let’s hope more groundbreaking findings are inbound.

8 Responses to "NASA Stumbles Across 10 Undiscovered Black Holes"

All of this is well and good but, when are the talking monkeys on this sorry planet going to quit building nuclear power plants and start using hydro electrical power.

You fellows seem to be intelligent, even experienced and well read. Why don’t you spend some time explaining to your readers how using a fission reaction to create a steam powered electrical generator is like using a plasma cutter to light a cigarette.

We have all been so conditioned not to talk about the endless supply of constant electrical energy that can be extracted from all of the rivers in the world, without dams or damaging the flora or fauna. Talk about a political/social agenda. Fukushima is a science project worth shouting about. The heck with NASA. BTW most people don’t know that NASA is a private corporation funded with public and private money as well.

A can of worms boys, so quit the pissing contest and dig into something that really would make a difference to debate. If you want to talk about relativity make it relative, would you please.

If science had accepted general relativity we would know a lot more about time now and perhaps have the technology to do so much more. After all Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity are the basis of all our modern technology, even with the meaning of relativity being suppressed. Did you notice the author refused to post the science answer to his original question? NASA is afraid of science, not a good sign.